on June 22, 2021
My life amounts to no more than one drop in a limitless ocean. Yet what is any ocean, but a multitude of drops? -David Mitchell
It’s easy to believe your day-to-day actions do not make a difference. After all, what does a single choice mean? What impact could a minor change have on the future? On their own, those small actions and choices might not mean much, but cumulatively, they mean everything.
If you decide to skip your child’s soccer game because of your workload, that one-time decision may not make a huge difference. However, if you consistently choose to prioritize work over family, suddenly that choice is no longer a drop in the ocean. It’s a tidal wave.
Looking at this concept from a different angle, you might not think that your small acts of kindness mean much. However, those selfless acts might mean the world to the recipient. What’s more, a small gesture of kindness has the potential to snowball and affect others in ways that are unexpected. Good deeds have a way of building off each other as people “pay it forward.”
That’s why every action makes a difference. Every step you take counts.
If you’re trying to become healthier, every trip to the gym and every green vegetable you eat is part of that journey.
If you’re attempting to write a book, every word you type moves you closer to that goal.
If you want to make a positive impact in your community, every minute of volunteering can add up to a significant contribution.
Thinking about this concept from a financial angle, your minor decisions can eventually add up to major losses or gains.
I’ve witnessed time and again how people brush off small expenditures, thinking that they don’t make a difference. What’s a $20 lunch? How much could a $40/month subscription matter? What’s the harm in buying that expensive pair of shoes? Again, on their own, these expenses might not matter much, but when taken as a whole, they can make an enormous difference.
Let’s say you eat out every day for lunch instead of making your own, which ends up costing $20 instead of costing $3 (for, perhaps, a homemade sandwich and a piece of fruit). That’s 17 additional dollars each day, 5 days per week, and 52 weeks per year, for a grand total of nearly $4,500. If you add a $5 beverage or a tip onto your lunchtime bill, that’s an extra $1,300 on top of that!
The small things truly add up, and the same is true for savings and investments. If you start adding an extra $50 or $100 per month to an emergency savings account, that may not seem like much, but with time (and compound interest!) your small contributions will eventually comprise a nice savings cushion. The same is true with investing. If you automatically feed your investments each month (AND commit to leaving them alone!), they should eventually grow into a nice nest egg.
Just as the ocean is comprised of countless water droplets, so too is your life defined by millions of tiny decisions. What will you decide to do today?